Channelling TV

This is a blog that details my many thoughts, ideas, rants, brainwaves, persuasions, views, idiosyncrasies, arguments, justifications, analyses, discussions, examinations and parodies about the art of television. It will be a celebration of TV as both an art form and an industry. This blog may be of interest to you if you are a fan of the following shows, on which I will maintain a particular focus: Game of Thrones Breaking Bad Fringe The Walking Dead Community Parks and Recreation 30 Rock Homeland Mad Men Once Upon a Time The Killing Boardwalk Empire Feel free to use my Ask Box or post submissions to your pleasure.

[channellingtv-blog]

Emmy Hopes & Predictions 2012: Part One

Yes, it's that time of year again when the academy reward the efforts of those involved in the television industry in the past year. It's also the time of year before people scratch their heads in confusion after the same academy makes a lot of questionable and baffling decisions. This year, I will be covering comedy as well as drama since I have watched a lot more this time around. So let's begin:

Best Drama:

Should:                                                          Will:

Homeland                                             Homeland

Mad Men                                              Mad Men

Game of Thrones                                   Game of Thrones

Breaking Bad                                         Breaking Bad

Boardwalk Empire                                   Boardwalk Empire

The Killing                                             The Good Wife

Best Comedy:

Should:                                                Will:

30 Rock                                                30 Rock

Parks & Recreation                                  Parks & Recreation

New Girl                                                Curb Your Enthusiasm

Community                                             Louie

Modern Family                                        Modern Family

Veep                                                    The Big Bang Theory

Best Actress in a Drama:

Should:                                                 Will:

Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)             Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) 

Claire Danes (Homeland)                           Claire Danes (Homeland)

Glenn Close (Damages)                             Glenn Close (Damages)

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)                         Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Mireille Enos (The Killing)                           Mireille Enos (The Killing)

Anna Torv (Fringe)                                   Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)

Best Actor in a Drama:

Should:                                                  Will:

Damian Lewis (Homeland)                          Damian Lewis (Homeland)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)                               Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)                   Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)              Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)

Jason Isaacs (Awake)                               Kelsey Grammer (Boss)

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)                             Timothy Olyphant (Justified)

Best Actress in a Comedy:

Should:                                                  Will:

Tina Fey (30 Rock)                                   Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation)                Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation)

Laura Linney (The Big C)                            Laura Linney (The Big C) 

Julia-Louise Dreyfus (Veep)                        Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)                        Laura Dern (Enlightened)

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)                           Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)

Best Actor in a Comedy:

Should:                                                   Will:

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)                               Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)               Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)              Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Louis C. K (Louie)                                      Louis C. K (Louie)

Joel McHale (Community)                            Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Adam Scott (Parks & Recreation)                 Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory)

The "should" list is made in mind that I have not watched Louie or Curb Your Enthusiasm but I can appreciate the talents of Louis C.K and Larry David to say that they deserve acting nominations. 

[smeagoled]

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Network TV 2011/2012

Network television has never been at a lower ebb than it is today. Broadcasters are unable to match the financial and creative clout of their cable counterparts, and while it's true that the likes of ABC, FOX, NBC, the CW and CBS enjoy higher ratings and a superior viewership, the overall quality of their projects are suffering. Cable shows can survive on critical appeal alone in some cases. This is seen in the tendency of these shows to consist of a 10-13 episode season, with a continous serialised thread from start to finish, not forgetting the mark of a thematic structure within each episode. Network television does not have that luxury. It must appeal to the masses in order to survive. It must attract the essential demographic of people aged 18-49, seen as most crucial to advertisers and, indirectly, to the networks themselves. Because of this, networks tend to embrace a more procedural format to their shows, robbing them of any major novelistic arcs or evolutions, instead ensuring that if a viewer missing one episode, then it will not be to their disadvantage.

That being said, there have been a number of bright spots in the network television industry this year. Let's have a look at my top five: 5. Awake (NBC) Created by Kyle Killen (mastermind of the short-lived, yet critically favoured Terriers) Awake explores the aftermath of a horrific car accident in which Det. Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs) escapes unscathed. However, he finds himself caught between two parallel realities, one in which his wife dies and his son survives, and another in which the opposite happens. The pilot was my favourite network opener this year. It combined an analysis of a grief-stricken husband and father with a mind-bending sci-fi element. Since then, Awake has focused on developing police procedural roots, which has unfortunately contributed to its cancellation after only one season. I found it, however, to be fascinating and captivating. 4. Once Upon a Time (ABC) Spearheaded by former Lost writers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, Once invited us to the town of Storybrooke, inhabited by people unaware of a previous existence in the land of fairytales. The orchestrator of this curse is the Evil Queen Regina (Lana Parrila) eager to exact revenge on long-time nemesis Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin). Things start to change, however, when Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) moves to Storybrooke to be with her long-lost son Henry. Once premiered as the number one new show in terms of ratings and despite taking  a while to find its feet creatively (and to fix the awful CGI), it became one of the most popular and acclaimed series on network television today. Enchanting and mesmerising, Once is capable of casting a spell on audiences for years to come. 3. Community (NBC) Season 3 of Community has by no means been the best season of the beloved show. Some of the sources of humour have become rote and there is a nagging feeling that from the story’s perspective, the writers are beginning to run out of ideas. However, an average episode of Community is still an incredibly high standard relative to other comedies of its kind, and that is why the show is where it is today. It has stayed true to its pop-culture referencing beginnings. The jokes are mostly fresh and sharp. Characters are developed (and dramatically improved (see Troy and Britta)) in hilarious, but meaningful ways. And let’s face it, who could go a whole week without hearing a Jeff Winger patented inspirational pep talk?

2. Fringe (FOX) Season 4 of Fringe was breathtakingly good at times, horribly frustrating at other times and bamboozling all the time. I was convinced the showrunners had written themselves into a corner with the shocking events of the third season finale, and while they overcame that obstacle in a (kind of) satisfying way, Fringe appeared more contrived this season. Some things just didn’t make much sense (especially from a scientific point of view). An old villain or two returned, which was largely welcomed, but the central conflict of this season was revealed far too late in the game. We were long teased with implications and speculations and this did not always pay off. But now to the good. Fringe finally addressed the question of the ever-present Observers in a largely satisfying manner. It finally dedicated an episode to our favourite Fringe agent Astrid Farnworth. It finally resolved the alternate universe storyline in a really heartfelt and organic way (I will miss them terribly). But most importantly, it set the stage for its fifth and final season by giving us an insight into a dystopian future 25 years from now, revealing the central conflict already (and perhaps learning from this season’s mistakes) and preparing us for the end. I will miss thee Fringe. But I have another 13 episodes to savour before you go for good. 1. Parks and Recreation (NBC) I was late to the Parks and Recreation game, and the first season was so bad that I was tempted to give this one up for good. But season 4 of Parks and Rec was so hilarious, so tense and so emotionally involving that I have to regard it as the great success of the 2011/2012 season. It begins where we left off, with Leslie Knope accepting the offer to run for Pawnee city councillor. Leslie is one of my favourite women on TV, perhaps even matching Liz Lemon, and it’s mostly down to Amy Poehler. Her new relationship with Ben is cute without holding the show back. Ron Swanson is as driven by routine and simplicity as ever. Ann and Tom have an on-off relationship. Donna is still protective of her Mercedes. April takes on more responsibility in the parks department and appears to empathise more with her co-workers while still rocking that cynical persona that makes her so popular. But the stand-out star of Season 4 has undoubtedly been Andy Dwyer. Just watch “The Debate” and see what I mean. My words can’t do his brilliance justice. The finale was the best comedy episode I have seen this year. Knope 2012! I will post a cable equivalent to this sometime during the summer since Game of Thrones and Mad Men have not finished up just yet, and I won’t be able to see the finales until early July.

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Whether to watch the rest of Awake knowing that it's more than likely going to get cancelled...

These are the things that keep me up at night.

[game-of-thorns]

Reports that Episode 2x10 is called "Valar Morghulis".

WIN.

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Sympathising with Betty Draper is making me question my sanity slightly...it's been nearly two years since Mad Men season 4 ended. But does that mean I only sympathise with her because she's now fat, or have I become more sympathetic in general?

Bizarre. This is why Mad Men is so good.

Fatsuits are never good though. It didn't work for Battlestar Galactica and it won't work for Mad Men.

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Using this weekend to pointedly provoke people into watching the new season of Game of Thrones that begins in the coming days.

If you are on the fence about watching a dense, time-consuming fantasy epic, please watch this scene and be entranced by the stunning visuals and direction, coupled with a mesmerising soundtrack.

NOTE: This scene is the final scene of season one and can be considered probably the fairest spoiler of them all.

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Game of Thrones begins again next Sunday at 9pm on HBO, or for UK/Irish viewers Monday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.

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First post

Welcome to my blog!

I will be producing a number of TV-related posts in the coming weeks and months, everything including:

Reviews

Ratings reports

Renewal/Cancellation prospects

Pilot predictions

A look at TV shows from the past

What will help this blog most of all, however, will be YOUR opinions. So use the ask box or submit to air your thoughts, appraisals or grievances with television today.

(If you are a fan of the following, this blog may be for you:

Game of Thrones Breaking Bad Fringe The Walking Dead Community Parks and Recreation 30 Rock Homeland Mad Men Once Upon a Time The Killing Boardwalk Empire )